Tuft-separating mechanism for brush machines



April 3, 1928. 1,664,424

c. JOBST TUFT SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR BRUSH MACHINES Original Filed April 1924 Snueufoz 607774 cf Jo bst Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrica.

CONRAD JOBS'LOF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TOLEDO AUTOMATIC BRUSH MA CHINE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TUFT-SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR BRUSH MACHINES.

Application filed April 1, 1924, Serial No. 703,374. Renewed November 12, 1927.

The invention relates to the manufacture of brushes and has for its object the obtaining of a high rate of production and a high grade product. In thepresent stateof the art various expedients have been employed for separating bristles from the mass and forming tufts. "Withf slow operating machines such separation-can'be easily performed, but where the machine is operating 0 at a high rate of speed, it is exceedingly difficult to obtain tufts of uniform density. Thus there is danger either of too high com pression and the consequent injury to the bristles, or of gathering too few of the bristles and forming. a poortuft. With the present invention the compacting of the bristles to the desired density is secured'by their own inertia, while danger of over-compression is avoided by. maintaining an unobstructed 29 opening to the measuring pocket through which an over-supply can be, freely discharged. Thus the usual picking point is entirely dispensed withand the mechanism is otherwise simplified by dispensing with feeding teeth or equivalent means commonly used, I

I In the drawings:-

Figure 1 isa sectional front elevation of the machine; V V

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view thereof; Figures 3,, 4,5,6 and 7 "are enlarged diagrams showing the successive-position of parts in the separation of the'tuft.

'The general construction of-the machine is similar toconstructions that'have heretofore. been used, comprising a bristle magazine A, preferably flaring or enlarging in diameter inthedirectionof feed and provided with a spring-pressed follower B for to advancing. the bristles therein. Near its forward end this magazine is provided with the "inclined wall C for contracting thespace iatithe forward'end and this wall is periodically. oscillated to assist in the downward l feeding of the bristles. The tuft separating and transferring means comprises the socalled picking needles D' and E whichare reciprocated' across the forward end of the magazine and are given a substantially harmonic movement. These needles are actuated by slides F and G engaging a guideway H and the slide F is positively actuated by suitable means such as the pin I and bell crank lever J, the latter being driven by a link K from a harmonically reciprocated part of the tuftdriving or setting mechanism. As this tuft setting mechanism forms no part of the present invention, it will not be described in detail.

The slide G which carries the needle E is yieldably driven from the slide F through i the space therebetwee'n with bristles from the magazine.

The mechanism thus far described hasbeen heretofore used, but has had certain objectionable features. Thus it is usual to form the needle D-with a sharp point for separat- 'ing the bristles in the pocket between the needles and the mass in the magazine. Also it is usual to provide a feeding point periodically inserted into thebristlesin the magazine and actuated to force the same forward into the pocket between the needles. Such features greatly interfere with the operation of the machine at high velocity and with the present construction are therefore dispensed with' On the other hand, it is equally necessary to obtain an exact measurement of the size of tufts and to form the same of uniform density, which is accomplished as follows:

"The 'needleE is formed with a hooked lower 'end E extending perpendicular to the direction of movement. The so-called'needle D is a straight bar with a square end parallel to the hookE. Both'needles slide in a bifurcated guide member M, which is adjustably secured to the frame by the screw M so that the pocket between the needles may be increased or decreased in depth. Adjacent to the needle D is a' guide member N which is adjustably securedto the frame by screws N to permit of accurately setting the same in relation to said needle. The arrangement is such that in normal operation the-needle D during its reciprocation is practically in contact with the slide N and acts as a cut-off for'separating the bristles, which are in the pocket between the needles from the mass in the magazine.

The successive steps in the operation of forming a tuft are illustrated in the enlarged diagrams and are as follows: As shown in Figure 3 the needles D and E are'ascen'ding,

but are in a position with the pocket between the same below the bottom ofthemagazine.

Here the mass of bristles in the magazine is- Ward to greatly enlarge the opening in the pocket, which as shown is filled by the forward pressing mass of bristles. In Figure 6- the needle D has again descended: to the position shown in Figure 4 and during its descent has com-pressed the bristles to the desired density, while the surplus quantity has been forced out into the magazine. In Figure 7 both needleshave descended and the needle D is just cutting off communication between the pocket and the magazine.

' It will be noted that in the position shown in Figure 5 the density of the bristles in the pocket is not uniform and particularly that the bristles at the inner corners of the pocket are lacking in density However, in the subsequent operation, as shown in Figure 6, the movement of the needle D has compacted the bristles in the pocket and as the opening of the pocket is unobstructed, any surplus quantity is forced-rearward into the magazine. Such a mechanism can operate at a rate of speed as high as eight tufts per second, and in each operation will separate a tuft of uniform density and without injury to the bristles.

An important feature of theimprovement is the adjustment of theguide N. This is originally set within a fraction of a thousandth from contact with the needle D and whenever, through wear or"oth"erwise, the space between said members is increased, the guide can be quickly reset. The adjustment of the bifurcated guide member M is used for increasing or decreasing the depth of the pocket between the needles and thereby correspondingly increasing ,or decreasing the size of the tuft. The adjustable stop L permits of varying the position of arrestof the needle E and this is preferably set soas to be a short distance above the bottomof the magazine. Thus the machine may be set to form tufts of any desired size and may be easily maintained in exact adjustment (luring its operation.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a bristle holding magazine and means for yieldably advancing the mass of bristles therein, of a pair of allel faces forming therebetween, while'ln registration with said magazine, a pocket in open communication for it'sfull width with said magazinepand. means for moving said needles relative to each other while. in regis- 'tration. with the magazineto alternately expand and contract the width of said pocket to successively receive bristles from the mass, compress the same 7 and eject the surplus.

3. The combination with a bristlehol'ding magazine? and means for yieldably advancing the mass of bristles therein, of a pair of cooperating needles reciprocating across said magazine, one of said needles. being formed with a square endand the other with a hook providing an opposed surface parallel to said square end, and means for moving said needles relative to eachother. while in registration with the magazine to alternately expand and contract the. space between said parallel surfaces, whereby bristles entering the expanded space under the yielding pressure are compressed to a predetermined density with the ejectionofthe surplus bristles.

4. The combination with abristle holding magazine and means for yieldably advancing the mass of bristles therein, of a pair of c0- operating needles reciprocating acrosssaid magazine, one of said needles. being provided with a square end and the other with a hook presenting an opposed surface parallel to said square end, a bifurcated guide in which said needles reciprocate, said. guide being adjustable to vary the depth of the space between said opposed surfaces, and means for moving said needles relative to each other while in registration with the -magazine to alternately expand and contract the width of said space, whereby bristles entering the space when expanded will be compressed and the surplus bristles ejected.

In testimonywhereof I afiix my signature.

CONRAD JoBs'r. 

